When we were planning to work remotely from Mexico City this past February, some people raised an eyebrow when we told them where we were going. Mexico City is not on the radar of a lot of travellers. I think the tourism department needs to ramp up its marketing tactics to dispel these five Mexico City misconceptions. In the meantime, I’ll do my part.
#1 Mexico City is a dangerous place
I’m sure there are sketchy parts of Mexico City — as there are in any big city, but I never felt unsafe during our month-long stay. We rented an Airbnb in the gentrified neighbourhood of Condesa, and the vibe was similar to staying in Greenwich Village in New York City or Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin. The truth is that if you have visited Chicago, you’ve been to a more dangerous city statistically. Would you not visit Chicago because it is unsafe? No, because you understand that most of the violence happens within criminal groups — not random attacks on tourists. The risk of becoming a victim is low.
Whenever I visit a big city, I am careful about safety. I follow the standard advice of not wearing flashy jewelry, I guard my smartphone (especially since Steve had his stolen out of his hands in London), and I don’t wander the streets late at night alone.
During our stay in Mexico City, Steve had to travel to Fort Lauderdale for a few days. I did not hide in our apartment until his return. I went for long walks, shopped, and went for pre-sunrise runs in our neighbourhood. In a city of nine million, there are always lots of people around, and that makes you feel safe.
There is also a strong police presence in Mexico City. You cannot walk a block without seeing either a police car, beat cops, or a bicycle patrol.
#2 You’ll get sick from eating the food
Ok, you do have to take some precautions when it comes to the water in Mexico City. It’s not advisable to consume it from the tap. We drank bottled water during our stay and boiled it from the tap before cooking with it. You should also be careful when buying fresh produce from the street markets by disinfecting it before eating. You can buy these handy disinfecting drops at any grocery store that you use in water to soak fruits and veggies.
In restaurants, you don’t need to worry. Your bigger risk is making yourself sick from eating and drinking too much (it happens). Streetfood is also safe–just make sure to choose popular stands with high turnover. I was impressed to see street vendors on our street literally scrubbing down their kiosks with soapy water at the end of each day.
Mexico City has so many amazing, award-winning restaurants at a variety of price points. If you’re a foodie, this city should be on your radar.
#3 There are not many worthy attractions
Ok, this one is wildly off-base. Mexico City has more than 150 museums, a thriving arts scene, lush parks, and intriguing architecture. And if you want to do a deeper dive into Mexican life and culture, there are 772 Airbnb Experiences where you can learn how to make tortillas, take a historic walking tour, indulge in an evening of mezcal tasting, view the spectacle of Lucha Libre, and so much more. The city also hosts many top touring bands and unique attractions. You will not be bored!
During our stay, we discovered an exhibit of the works of H.R. Giger, who is most famous for designing the monster in the movie Alien.
#4 It’s overcrowded and chaotic
I totally get this assumption. When you learn that Mexico City has a population of close to nine million, you think you’re going to be walking around in a crush of humanity any time you want to get from point A to B. But, it’s not like that. Mexico City is spread out with 15,600 residents per square mile. Compared with New York City at 27,000 people per square mile for a similar population, you can see that you get a bit more breathing room.
I adore New York City, but after a few days, I want my own space! I never felt that way in Mexico City. It’s busy, but not overwhelming. It would be great if the city could reduce the number of cars on the street, on the other hand. Traffic can get a bit nuts.
There are many serene spaces and areas in the city that are far from chaotic. We discovered that some of the most beautiful neighbourhood parks are in Mexico City. Strolling along Amsterdam Avenue is a pure pleasure as you greet dogs and their humans on an afternoon stroll.
#5 It’s corrupt, and you’ll get ripped off
The news is filled with stories of corruption in Mexico. No doubt, as a country, it’s got significant issues in this department. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone is trying to rip off tourists.
Our evidence is anecdotal, but during our stay, we found locals to be extremely friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. With our light skin and inability to say much more in Spanish than “please” and “I’m sorry” (hey, we’re Canadian), it was clear we were visitors wherever we went.
In one instance early in our stay, we overpaid for a torta (sandwich) at a street stand by a couple of pesos, and despite the busy queue, the proprietor stepped away to catch up with us to give us change.
On three other occasions (once tying to return an item at a grocery store, once ordering in a restaurant, and another when we were trying to register for the bike-share program), a fellow customer overheard us struggling to communicate and offered to help us because they spoke English. Nice!
Now, we did not spend much time in the touristy areas of the city, but I’ve certainly felt more on guard for tourist scams in other cities.
Visit Mexico City!
Mexico City is an outstanding, cosmopolitan centre on par with places such as New York City, Berlin, or Toronto. Like these other cities, it’s got just the right amount of grit and urban flavour to make it interesting and feel authentic. If you love urban living and all of its benefits, don’t overlook Mexico City as your next travel destination.
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